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Joel’s Journal: Cheaha State Park, Alabama
By Joel Raeber
“Chaha” means “high place,” according to the Creek Indians. Standing 2,407 feet above sea level, Cheaha State Park in Alabama is the highest point in the state. Cheaha is also Alabama's oldest continuously-operating State Park. The State of Alabama acquired the land in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corp's (CCC) did much of the development and construction. The park is in the Talladega National Forest near the town of Delta, Alabama, and is about midway between Atlanta and Birmingham, twelve miles south of I-20 at Anniston.
 The park has three campgrounds. The Mountain Top Campground, located on top of Cheaha Mountain, offers 43 full hook-up sites with two full-service bath houses. Cheaha Lake Campground, located near Cheaha Lake, has 30 full hook-up sites with a full- service bathhouse. The Picnic Trail Campground is located along the observation tower road and has water service, restrooms, picnicking, and a playground, and it is within walking distance of the observation tower built by the CCC at exactly the highest point in the state. There is also a CCC museum at Cheaha.
The lower Cheaha Lake Campground offers more space for campers and more privacy. The sites in the Mountain Top Campground are closer together, but there are several pull-thru sites. One disadvantage of the Lake Campground is the county dump site located just past the turn in to the campground, which is somewhat of an eyesore.
On the mountaintop is a 75-foot observation tower, Bunker Tower, built by the CCC. It offers views in every direction. The park maintenance area is located nearby, which spoils some of the views, but in general, it is worth the climb to the top.
Lake Cheaha is a six-acre lake, hand dug by the CCC crews in the 1930s. The lake offers bass and bluegill fishing as well as a swimming area. It is within easy walking distance from the lower campgrounds and has a picnic area, swimming beach, diving platform, and paddle boats.
 There are several short hiking trails at the park. The Pulpit Rock Trail is a moderate trail to the rock outcrop of Pulpit Rock. This is a popular spot for repelling with commanding views of the valley below. The Rock Garden and Lake Trails are the most difficult in the park. The lake trail connects the mountain top with the lake below and has a 1,000-foot elevation change in the first half mile. The Bald Rock Boardwalk trail is a one-quarter mile interpretive trail that leads to an overlook with views stretching to Anniston and Oxford, Alabama. None of the trails in the park are more than five miles long. Because the park is located in the middle of the 280,000-acre Talladega National Forest there are another 135 miles of hiking trails in the immediate vicinity of the park, including the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail, which is more than 110 miles long and connects with the Appalachian Trail and Chinnabee Silent Trail. There is also a 6.2-mile mountain bike trail in the park.
The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it offers a panoramic view of the Talladega National Forest below. There are also picnic area, cabins and a country store available at the park. Free wireless Internet access is available at the Cheaha Lodge lobby and at the Cheaha Country Store.
Pets are allowed in the campground only and must be kept on a 6-foot leash or less at all times. Nearby is NASCAR racing at Talladega Super Speedway.
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